Castile-La Mancha is an autonomous community in central Spain with Toledo as its capital.
Castile-La Mancha is home to Don Quixote de la Mancha, Manchega cheese, and a region of amazing cliffside villages and majestic castles.
Photo: Nature of Castile-La Mancha Castile - La Mancha is a Spanish region in the center of the country, which the citizens of this country are very proud of. The culture and customs of the locals have absorbed the traditions of various cultures: Christian, Mauritanian and Jewish. It was through the expanses of Castile - La Mancha that the famous Don Quixote traveled.
You can see all the beauty of the nature of Castile-La Mancha in this video:
Castile-La Mancha meets travelers with a huge variety of nature, landscapes and attractions. Hundreds of species of birds nest in local reserves and parks, and some of them are on the verge of extinction.
The Romans built fortified cities here - their perfectly planned structures were completed and rebuilt by the Moors, and subsequently used by the Spaniards.
Guests are waiting for endless fields, numerous windmills and medieval fortresses that were built during religious campaigns.
In Castile - La Mancha they like to celebrate holidays, so there are a lot of them. They are closely intertwined Christian traditions, pagan rites and beliefs.
Carnival in Villarrobledo is popular not only in this town, but throughout the region. During it, costumed processions pass through the streets, itinerant musicians perform. The start date of the holiday is tied to Easter, and the celebrations last more than ten days.
Photo: Carnival in Villarrobledo In September, the city of Albacete turns into a huge marketplace, as a fair opens here. To attract tourists and for greater entertainment, a bullfight is arranged.
In Castile - La Mancha, sales are held at the end of winter and in the second half of summer. At this time, buyers can purchase goods of popular and expensive brands with a discount of up to 70-80%.
Geographic features
Photo: View of the City of Toledo The huge, heart-like territory of La Mancha Castile, which is also called New Castile, is at first glance lifeless. Almost a quarter of it is sun-scorched plains. The people live off the cultivation of olives, saffron, wheat and winemaking, as the world's largest vineyards flourish here.
There are places with fertile, moist soils, such as the Tablas de Daimiel Reserve. You can hide from the heat in the mountainous regions of the Sierra de Alcatraz and the Toledo mountains.
Climate
Castile-La Mancha is characterized by a climate with large temperature fluctuations. In summer it is very hot - from 30°C or more, and in winter it is cold, there are frosts even down to -20°C.
How to get and move around the place
Photo: Map of Castile-La Mancha Why go
The landscapes of Castile-La Mancha are very colorful - terracotta rolling plains, islands of olive groves, golden fields and endless vineyards. Here you can follow in the footsteps of Don Quixote, drink fine wine and taste the local Manchego cheese. This region can compete with its neighbor Castile and León for superiority in the beauty of castles and cathedrals.
When to go
The best time to visit is spring when everything is in bloom and the weather is perfect. Autumn is also great, especially for tours of villages and nature reserves.
Cultural Features
Photo: Statue of Dulcinea and Don Quixote Castile-La Mancha is a mixture most cultures: ancient Roman, Visigothic, Christian, Muslim and even Jewish. Once it was the center of religious wars, which served as the construction of fortifications. Modern La Mancha is also very religious, sometimes to the point of fanaticism, when at Easter some men allow themselves to be crucified.
This region is famous all over the world for the fact that the book character Don Quixote and his faithful Sancho Panso wandered here. There are many places of this sad knight: windmills in the hills, Dulcinea's house in the city of El Toboso and caves in Las Lagunas de Ruidera.
What to see
There are hundreds of attractions in Castile - La Mancha, but we carefully studied the reviews of tourists and chose the top 10 best:
Cathedral in the city of Toledo- a beautiful building, the construction of which began 9 centuries ago. It contains a very ancient and revered by Christians statue of the Virgin Mary. It is here that pilgrims come with their requests.
Photo: Cathedral in the city of Toledo - on this place were the fortifications of the Romans, Visigoths and Arabs. Once it was assumed that this would be the residence of the king, but later the capital was moved to Madrid and the Alcazar was not used for this purpose.
Photo: Alcazar Fortress in Toledo - Once upon a time, a lot of Jews lived in this region, who settled in one area of the city of Toledo. It was the richest and most prosperous area.
Photo: Jewish Quarter Don't be upset when you see him outside. All wealth is hidden from prying eyes. A cozy and original patio creates a pleasant contrast with the surrounding reality.
Photo: Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes in Toledo - the pride and symbol of Castile - La Mancha. They are preserved here and there, but near this town they create a view that is simply incomparable.
Photo: Complex of windmills near Campo de Criptana Cuenca- it is called the city in the rock. Guests are amazed by the houses and buildings hanging over the abyss.
Photo: Cuenca - an openwork, almost air bridge over the abyss. From here you have a stunning view of the surroundings.
Photo: San Pablo Bridge in Cuenca - this is an operating transport hub where trains from neighboring regions arrive. All guests are amazed by the old Arabic style in which this station is made.
Photo: Train station in Toledo Palace in Guadalajara – luxury home with countless ornaments, decorative elements and openwork ornaments.
Photo: Palace in Guadalajara - in this inconspicuous church there is a real masterpiece: the painting "The Burial of Count Orgas" by the great El Greco. It was written by her specifically for this church, and, surprisingly, this canvas never left its borders.
Photo: Church of Sao Tome in Toledo Main places and cities of attractions
Metropolitan Toledo is a leader in photography tours due to its beauty and attractions:
- The majestic and somewhat gloomy Alcazar castle;
- Luxurious Cathedral of St. Mary;
- Wonderful medieval streets.
Ciudad Real also has something to show:
- Fortification of 4 km of fortress walls and 30 fortress towers;
- The castles of New and Old Calatrava, Bolaños de Calatrava, St. John and Salvatierra;
- Museum of Don Quixote.
Other interesting cities:
- Balmonte and Calatrava da Nueva have some of the oldest castles in Spain;
- The most picturesque village with houses in caves and on the rocks, Alcala del Jucar, has been declared a historical and artistic monument of Spain;
- Hanging over the abyss of Cuenca, as well as Siguenza and Almagro.
What to do in Castile-La Mancha
Photo: El Greco in the Church of Sao Tome in Toledo In Castile - La Mancha, there is a huge amount of entertainment for body and soul. We have studied traveler reviews and compiled a list of the top 20 things to do in this part of Spain:
- Feel like the famous Don Quixote and follow the route of the great wanderer. It remains only to find a companion for the role of Sancho Panza.
- Go inside the Jewish quarter and wander through its streets - unfortunately, much was destroyed during the years of persecution of the Jews, but still part of their heritage was preserved.
- Think of the eternal in front of the figure of the Virgin Mary in the Cathedral of Toledo.
- Get into the Alcazar fortress and feel like an ancient conqueror who needs to defend himself from enemies.
- Fight the windmills near Campo de Criptana. I wonder who will emerge victorious in this fight?
- Check your vestibular apparatus while standing on the San Pablo bridge in Cuenca, and then marvel at the fearlessness of the inhabitants of the houses hanging over the abyss.
- Take a break from the summer heat in the shady courtyard of the monastery of San Juan de los Reyes in Toledo, once in the wealthy Jewish district.
- Enjoy the work of the famous El Greco in the Church of Sao Tome in Toledo. It is surprising that in the past time this canvas has never been taken out of the church.
- Sit on a bench in the train station in Toledo and take the time to look at this beautiful place for which passengers often do not have time at all.
- Walk through the luxurious halls of the beautiful palace in Guadalajara and marvel at the beauty of the decor and decoration.
- Take a photo tour around the city of Toledo, visiting local museums along the way.
- Visit all 5 fortresses in Ciudad Real, which the city owes to the Reconquista.
- Visit one of the wonders of Spain - Las Lagunas de Ruidera natural park of 15 lakes and lagoons.
- Feel like a romantic Don Quixote next to the windmills in the village of Consuegra.
- Walk one of the walking routes: "Route of castles", "Way of Don Quixote" or "Route of black (slate) villages".
- See the incomparable city of Cuenca, where people live in houses right above the abyss.
- Visit the Museum of Abstraction in one of the houses in Cuenca.
- Taste well-aged Manchego cheese with the best La Manche wines.
- Forget about the hustle and bustle with a glass of excellent beer in the waterfront cafe of the wonderful city of Alcalá del Jucar.
- Explore the little-known and untouched ancient Roman settlement of Valeria.
Shopping (What and where to buy)
Photo: Spice saffron Castile-La Mancha has a lot of its own special and original souvenirs that tourists take home with great pleasure:
- Blades - local knives have become famous throughout the world for the quality of the blade and the sophistication of the decoration. Collectors love to purchase knives from Castile for their collections.
- Wine – every year winemakers in this region create hundreds of thousands of liters of wine and supply it to the whole world.
- Queso Manchego is the famous sheep's cheese, which is made from the whole milk of only the local sheep.
- Various metal products (plates, vases, coasters) made in the Damascus style is a well-known style of working with metal, during which original drawings are created using silver and gold threads.
- Saffron - many travelers are surprised to learn that the most expensive spice in the world is grown and created in this region. Unlike Indian saffron, the Spanish version has a more intense aroma.
Where to live
Photo: Room at the Hotel Exe Cuenca There are many good and inexpensive hotels in Castile - La Mancha, so we have chosen the top 5 most interesting in terms of price / quality ratio:
- NH Toledo (Travesia Marques de Mendigorria 8-12 | Covachuelas, 45003 Toledo) - literally 10 minutes from the boundaries of the old city. Spacious rooms with everything modern conveniences including air conditioners.
- AC Hotel Ciudad de Toledo (Carretera Circunvalacion 15, 45004 Toledo) – beautiful building With original decor. Beautifully decorated rooms and delicious breakfasts for hotel guests.
- The Sercotel Hotel Pintor el Greco (Calle Alamillos del Transito 13, 45002 Toledo) is an old-fashioned hotel that has been refurbished and updated with modern facilities for the comfort of its guests. It is located five minutes walk from the historic center.
- Hotel Exe Cuenca (Avenida Juan Carlos I s/n, 16004 Cuenca) is a cozy hotel with clean and spacious rooms. Free parking is provided for guests arriving by car.
- Hotel La Casa de los 3 Cielos (Calle Libertad 11, 13610 Campo de Criptana) is a charming hotel in the style of the unusual and mysterious hero Don Quixote. Friendly staff, clean and comfortable rooms, and a hearty breakfast await guests.
Tour plan, tours for 1-3-7 days
The region of Castile - La Mancha is fraught with many mysteries and mysteries that are gladly revealed to curious travelers. We have compiled an interesting route in which we tried to cover all the most remarkable.
| Day | Morning | Dinner | Evening |
| 1 | Toledo. Cathedral. Museum at the Cathedral. | Museum "Mysterious Spain". Church of San Andres. | Monastery of Santa Isabel. Museum of El Greco. After exploring the city, stop by the popular grill bar La Maruja Patio (Calle Cortes, 1, (Dentro del Paseo del Transito), which serves excellent meat dishes. |
| 2 | Fort Alcazar. We advise you to spend at least half a day inspecting this powerful structure in order to feel its spirit. | Museum of Santa Cruz in the old building of the former hospital. Within its walls there is a large collection of Spanish artists. After the museum, go to dinner at the Bar Ludeña restaurant (Plaza Magdalena, 10), whose regular guests advise trying the cuttlefish dish from the chef. | |
| 3 | Church of San Juan de los Reyes. | Synagogue of Santa Maria La Blanca. Streets of the Jewish quarter. | The Victorio Macho Museum, dedicated to the work of the famous sculptor. Bridge of Saint Martin. On the other side of the river, El Fogon Del Quijote (Ctra. Navalpino, 1) serves delicious home-style meals. |
| 4 | Campo de Criptana. Mills. | Alses Park, in the shade of which you can have a small picnic. | Alcazar de San Juan. Hidalgo Museum with interactive exhibits that help you better understand the lifestyle of people in Spain in the 16th century. Nearby is Restaurante La Cayetana (Pasaje de la Plaza España, 1, 13600 Alcázar de San Juan, Cdad. Real), where they cook cod according to their original recipe. |
| 5 | Cuenca. Cathedral. | Hanging houses. Museum of Abstract Art. | Church of San Pedro. Bridge of San Pablo. |
| 6 | Enchanted city near Cuenca. | Belmonte. Franciscan castle. | Fortress walls. Church of St. Bartholomew. There are few restaurants here, but appreciate the quality of service and the taste of dishes at Hostal Rural & Restaurante La Muralla (Calle Osa de la Vega, s/n), which many tourists recommend in their reviews. |
| 7 | Aranjuez. Royal Palace with a garden and fountains. | Toledo. Train Station. |
What and where is
Photo: Marzipans In Castile - La Mancha formed their own culinary traditions, in which there are differences from neighboring Spanish regions. We have collected the top 5 most original and delicious dishes:
- Karkamousas is the most tender stew of venison or pork with green peas and tomatoes in wine sauce and various spices. It is often served during big family celebrations and for dear guests.
- Atascaburras - original combination mashed potatoes with walnuts and salted cod. Cod is generally loved and appreciated here.
- Gazpacho toledanas is a thick, rich meat broth with tomatoes, garlic and white wine. Mushrooms are sometimes added to it, but this is not a required ingredient.
- Manchego is a local hard sheep cheese that is produced only in this region.
- Marzipans are made from ground almonds with added sugar. This mixture is then boiled or baked.
Kitchen
In Castile-La Mancha, the famous Manchego sheep cheese is brewed. Cervantes in his work glorified this region and its cuisine, but in general it is similar to the cuisine of Castile and Leon. A unique dish that is prepared only here is gazpacho toledanas from rabbit and poultry, tomatoes, garlic, white wine with pieces of bread (tortillas).
The best tours by reviews
There are many interesting places and attractions in Castile - La Mancha. Some can be seen on your own, but sometimes the most breathtaking experiences can only be experienced with an experienced guide. We have selected the top 5 best group tours according to tourist reviews:
- Horse riding in Cuenca - on horseback it is easy to imagine yourself as a medieval knight or the world-famous Don Quixote, who travels through this region.
- Night Toledo - the life of the city was conducted not so much in large squares and wide streets, but in numerous patios. In the evening, in the light of the moon and lanterns, the city takes on a completely different look. Ancient facades begin to tell legends and stories about the life of the former inhabitants.
- Shalom from Toledo - once this city was called the Spanish Jerusalem because a lot of Jews lived in it, who founded a truly “city within a city” - the Jewish quarter was surrounded by a separate wall.
- In the footsteps of the great Don Quixote - follow the route of the famous Spanish hero and his faithful companion Sancho Panza. Much will be revealed to the participants along the way.
- Cuenca is a city over an abyss. Once it was at the crossroads of the main routes of Spain, which became the basis for the development of this city. Merchants from all over the country sought here for successful transactions and prosperity.
You can see the sights of the city of Toledo on this video:
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Here are the largest vineyards in the world. Autonomy occupies 15.7% of the area of Spain and includes five provinces: Albacete, Guadalajara, Cuenca, Ciudad Real and Toledo (capital). 67% of the territory is located at an altitude of 600 - 1000 meters above sea level, and 20% at an altitude of 1000 - 2000 meters. Castile-La Mancha is located on a huge plateau of the Castilian plateau, divided by the Central Cordillera ranges into Old Castilian and New Castile.
Winemaking and viticulture in this autonomy, which today produces half of all Spanish wine, form the basis of its economy. The Moors, who dominated this territory for several centuries, called this land "al-Mancha" (dry) because of its continental climate with long hot summers (often up to +45 ° C), and cold winters (at night down to -15 ° C) . Precipitation falls mainly in spring and autumn, often in the form of hurricanes.
La Mancha is a sea of vineyards on a limestone plateau that goes beyond the horizon. All DOs of Castile-la-Mancha have their own face and history, on the back label of wines of the largest DO of La Mancha - 193904 hectares, Don Quixote is depicted sitting on his Rosinante. His memory lives on in this region.
When, in the 19th century, phylloxera destroyed almost all plantings in Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhone Valley and other areas that lived in winemaking, French winemakers and wine merchants frantically searched for sources of raw materials. Wine for the French was an indispensable food item, so in response to market demands in Castile-la-Mancha, where wheat was grown before the French disaster, the area under the vine increased five times. Grapes have replaced wheat. Unpretentious red varieties of Garnacha and Tempranillo, which is called Sensibel here, and white Airen and Macabeo were planted here. Today DO La-Mancha vineyards are scattered across four of the five provinces of New Castile.
Almansa (Almansa)
It so happened historically that the lands on which this wine-growing region is located never had an independent destiny and played the role of a link between the powerful kingdoms of Castile and Aragon and the lands overlooking the Mediterranean. The hallmark of Almansa and its winery DO is the fortress of Almansa reigning over the city. It stands on a steep hill overlooking the plateau. Vineyards are located on average at an altitude of 700 meters; the climate is no better than in all of New Castile, if only a little more severe: hail often occurs in spring and autumn.
Typical wines from the Garnacha variety Coloring - one of two Spanish varieties with colored pulp (70% of all plantings) - young, fragrant, ripe pomegranate color, reaching 15% strength. Two other typical varieties are Monastrell and Tempranillo (Sensibel). Monastrell is able to survive the extreme temperature changes in this semi-arid climate. Blending is popular, three varieties are combined in search of a new taste.
The limestone-sandy soils of the region are very poor in organic matter, the yield is low due to the low amount of precipitation (350 mm per year), but the grapes have an optimal ratio of acid and sugar. The rosés here are very fresh and light, while the whites are fragrant, with a light golden color typical of New Castile Airen wines. The area under vineyards is 7600 hectares.
Bodegas Piqueras (Bodegas Piqueras) - produces white, pink and red Castillo de Almansa (Almansa Fortress). To the honor roll the best wines 2003, selected by the tasters of the Spanish group Gourmet, includes its red crianza from the varieties Monastrell (30%), Tempranillo (20%) and Garnacha Red (20%), aged in a barrel for 12 months. A wine of ripe pomegranate color, with strong tannins, intense fresh aroma with balsamic and herbal tones, notes of eucalyptus, dried fruit, coffee and dark chocolate.
La Mancha
This sub-region occupies half of the area of the region. 193,904 hectares are occupied under the vine - more than in French Bordeaux, 30% of Spanish wines with the DO brand are made here. The DO unites 299 bodegas, for local producers winemaking is a matter of life, their wines today surprise with their high quality and cheapness.
The mountains surrounding New Castile prevent the penetration of moist sea winds, so the land suffers from a lack of moisture, due to the low rainfall (300-400 mm per year), so the yield is low, but the quality of the grapes is excellent. The limestone-sandy soils of the region are very poor in organic matter, the roots of vines, in search of water and nutrients have to penetrate very deep into the soil. A favorite of the vineyards is the white Airen, which gives pale golden wines with a fresh, pleasant aroma and a light, versatile taste. Of the red varieties, Sensibel (Tempranillo) is the most interesting.
In 1961, a cooperative was founded in the town of Tomelloso, which has grown into the largest winery in the world: Virgen de las Viñas (Virgen de las Vinas). Every year, 180 million kilograms of grapes are processed here, and 70 million liters of wine are produced.
Bodegas Centro Españolas (Bodegas of Central Spain) is the first estate in La Mancha that produces aged wines. The second direction is brandy from the Airen variety. In 2000, their famous wine Allozo (Aloso) received a gold medal in Bordeaux and many other awards.
The Rama Corta brand from Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon red and white from Airen and Macabeo are widely known.
It has long been engaged in the distillation of grape spirits and their subsequent aging in wooden barrels according to the "soleras and criaderas" method.
Manchuela
This wine-growing area received official recognition only in 2000. There are two types of vineyards here: with and without drip irrigation systems. Of course, the productivity of vineyards with irrigation is much higher, but it is limited by rigid limits: up to 80 hl/ha for white varieties and 70 hl/ha for red varieties. The main variety, occupying 70% of all areas, was and remains the red Bobal, from which unusually beautiful ruby red wines are obtained. That is why for many years the anonymous wine from these vineyards was bought up by barrels by winemakers from other regions to improve the color of their wines.
The dry continental climate of this zone differs from the neighboring ones in that at night the scorching daytime sun is replaced by moist and cool Mediterranean winds. They slow down the ripening process.
Mentrida
In this wine-growing area at the beginning of the 20th century, after the invasion of phylloxera, the productive red Garnacha was planted. This is still the main variety of this DO - 80% of the territory is occupied by it. Typical wines of these places, reds of juicy bright crimson color and fragrant roses, are a real Spanish "bestseller". The new rules of the DO Council, seeking to diversify the region's wine-growing picture, allow the planting of reds: Sensibel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Syrah; whites: Albillo, Macabeo, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo.
Mondéjar
The wines of this denomination are made mainly from white variety Malbar, minor landings of Macabeo and Torontes. Red is the famous Tempranillo, and Cabernet Sauvignon is also allowed. This is a hilly plain, the climate is Mediterranean, the soils are poor, easily permeable, which provides moisture access to the roots. And although the conditions for winemaking are favorable, and the wines are of very high quality, there is not a single bodega that has glorified its region.
Valdepeñas
The name of this southern La Mancha wine region has become synonymous in Spain with the red wine on tap, which is served daily at lunch or dinner in countless bars and restaurants. This is an inexpensive red wine that has been used since childhood. However, the glory of red wine does not extend to the white wine of the same area.
At the beginning of the 20th century, when the phylloxera destroyed all the vineyards in the neighboring areas, Valdepeñas traded wine from its cellars for many years without interruption. The stocks were so great that they lasted until the plantings were restored.
Revolutionary changes in the economy, industry and agriculture of Spain affected this area as well. Equipment has been upgraded almost everywhere, mechanized harvesting has been introduced - all this serves as a guarantee of the quality of future wine.
The undisputed favorite among red varieties is Sensibel, white varieties are Airen. There is a sharply continental climate with very cold winters (down to -10 0 C) and hot summers (up to +40 0 C), 350 mm of precipitation per year. The soils are rich in limestone, the layers of which, where they come to the surface, have to be destroyed, helping the roots of the vines to make their way deeper.
Bodega Félix Solis produces at the same time both the typical and the most prestigious pink and red Viña Albali from the Sensibel variety. They have reached such a high quality that they may well claim the title of a symbol of Spanish winemaking.
Dominio de Valdepusa
In July 2002, the government of the autonomy of La Mancha approved a personal DO for the possessions of Don Carlos Falco, Marquis de Grignon, who is an iconic figure in Spanish winemaking. The wines of the Marques de Grinon brand are widely known in Spain. Don Carlos Falco's famous brand, Dominio de Valdepusa, was produced outside the DO for many years. He was simply cramped in a strictly regulated framework. Now, in an unprecedented case, a special subsidiary has been created for these wines, controlling the following brands of red wines:
Dominio de Valdepusa Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18-24 months in barrel);
Dominio de Valdepusa Petit Verdot (100% Petit Verdot, 8 months in barrel);
Dominio de Valdepusa Sirah (100% Syrah, 11 months in barrel).
Population: 2,043,000 people (4.42% of the Spanish population). The largest city: Albacete (164,700 inhabitants).
Initially, Castile-La Mancha and Madrid were part of the historical region of New Castile, but in the process of formation new system autonomous regions were divided due to the large differences in socio-demographic characteristics between the Spanish capital and the rest of the provinces of New Castile. The province of Albacete, formerly part of Murcia, was annexed to Castile-La Mancha.
Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra's classic novel Don Quixote, which takes place on the local plains, brought worldwide fame to this region. Nowadays, La Mancha with its sunflowers, olive orchards, windmills, Manchego cheese and the story of the noble Don Quixote is one of the symbols of Spain.
Geography and climate of Castile - La Mancha
The autonomous region of Castile-La Mancha is located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula. Its area is 79,463 square kilometers (15.7% of the territory of Spain; third place among the Spanish autonomous regions). It occupies the southern part of the Central Castilian Plateau. The central mountain system separates it from the northern part of the plateau, where the autonomous region of Castile and León is located. In the northeast is the Iberian mountain system, in the south - the Sierra Morena and Montes de Toledo. Geographically, Castile-La Mancha is divided into two regions. The central Castilian plateau is characterized by a flat relief. The highest of the local peaks - Las Villarcas (1,601 meters) and Rosigalgo (1,447 meters) - are in the Montes de Toledo system, which crosses the region from west to east. Montes de Toledo divides the southern part of the Central Castilian plateau between the Tajo and Guadiana river basins.
Mountain ranges, stretching in the northern part of the province of Guadalajara near the border with Madrid and Segovia, are part of the Central mountain system. The Jarama, Kanyamares and Henares rivers originate here. Part central system, located in the province of Toledo, approaches the southern part of the Sierra de Gredos. The Sierra Morena forms a natural border between Castile-La Mancha and Andalusia. On the territory of the region there are basins of five rivers - Tajo, Guadiana and Guadalquivir flow into the Atlantic Ocean, Jucar and Segura carry their waters to the Mediterranean Sea.
The continental variant of the Mediterranean climate dominates here - in comparison with neighboring regions of Spain, Castile-La Mancha is less influenced air masses formed over the Mediterranean Sea, winters are colder, summer months are hotter. The temperature in summer often rises above +30°С. In winter, temperatures often fall below 0°C; sometimes it snows. Kachstila-La Mancha is traditionally called Espana Seca (dry Spain): in the central part of the region, the annual rainfall, as a rule, does not exceed 400 mm. However, in the peripheral mountainous regions, this figure rises to 1,000 mm. In most of the region, it is approximately 600 mm. Annual hours of sunshine: 2,440 (Guadalajara). The driest areas are located on the Elin-Albacete axis (300 mm).
History of Castile - La Mancha
Before the arrival of the Romans most Castile-La Mancha occupied pastures. These lands were inhabited by the Celtic tribes of Carpetans and Vetons. The Romans greatly improved agricultural methods. Wealthy Visigothic families later became the owners of these lands. The first settlement on the site of modern Toledo appeared in the Bronze Age. During the era of Roman rule, Toledo, due to its convenient location, became the administrative center of the region, and after the collapse of the Roman Empire, starting from the reign of Leovigild, it was the capital of Visigothic Spain. This status was maintained until the beginning of the Muslim invasion that occurred in the 8th century, after which Toledo became part of the Caliphate of Cordoba. In 763, Cassim, the Moorish ruler of Toledo, rebelled against the Caliphate of Cordoba, but three years later the city returned to Cordoba. A period called La Convivence followed - a time of peaceful coexistence, Jews, Christians and Muslims - Muslims preferred to collect tribute from conquered peoples, without resorting to their forced conversion to Islam.
However, most of the local churches were turned into mosques, all kinds of processions and bell ringing were prohibited. At the same time, weapons and horses were not taken away from the townspeople; the inhabitants of Toledo retained the right to live according to the laws established before the Muslim conquest, the judicial system was preserved. However, at the end of the 8th - beginning of the 9th century, the townspeople repeatedly raised uprisings. The result of one of these uprisings was a massacre perpetrated by the Vali (governor) of Toledo Amryuk al Lleridi and entered the history of Spain under the name Toledo Night. According to various estimates, from 400 to 700 representatives of the noble Visigoth families of Toledo were destroyed by his order. After the fall of the Caliphate of Cordoba, the city became the capital of one of the richest taifas of Al-Andalus. Today, numerous historical and architectural monuments, including the buildings of mosques and synagogues, remind of this era.
Guadalajara was founded in the 8th century. Initially, this Moorish settlement was called Wadi al-Hara (rocky valley). Documentary evidence of a settlement called Arriaca, located on the territory of modern Guadalajara back in the days of Roman rule, has survived to our time, but this information has not yet been confirmed by archaeological finds. Monuments early period history of Guadalajara - the bridge over the Henares built by the Moors, the ruins of the Alcazar and the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, which in those days was a mosque.
The region suffered greatly during the Peninsular War (1808 - 1814). In 1808, Guadalajara was captured and destroyed by French troops. In Castile-la-Mancha unfolded guerrilla war with the French. In June 1808, when the Napoleonic army, on its way to Andalusia, approached Valdepeñas, its entire population and the inhabitants of neighboring villages rose to fight the aggressor. A bloody skirmish ensued, after which the French army retreated from the province of La Mancha. This delay largely determined the victory of the Spaniards at the Battle of Bailen. Today, this episode in the history of Valdepeñas is commemorated by the monument to Juana Galan, who took part in the battle with the French cavalry and called on other women to help their husbands in the fight against the French. Ferdinand VII appreciated the dedication of the inhabitants of Valdepeñas and bestowed on him the title of "Valorous".
The middle of the 19th century was a time of intensive development of the transport network. In 1855, the Madrid-Alicante railway line crossed Albacete; soon a rail link connected Albacete with Cartagena. The Madrid-Toledo railway line was commissioned in June 1858. Toledo railway station is one of the monuments of architecture early XIX century.
The Alcazar Palace, one of the main attractions of Toledo, was built by the Romans in the 3rd century AD. During the reigns of Alfonso VI and Alfonso X, the building was restored, in 1535 it was reconstructed, in the 19th century it housed a military academy. In 1936, during civil war, fortified in the Alcazar, the garrison under the command of Colonel José Moscardo Ituarte for a long time repelled the onslaught of the Republican troops. In July 1936, José Moscardo Ituarte, head of the military administration of Toledo, took Franco's side and refused to give the Republican government access to ammunition produced at the Toledo factory.
The Republicans sent an army to the city, numbering about 8,000 troops and militias. Nationalists attached great importance Alcazar, considering it a symbol of the power of domination in the region. The loss of the Alcazar could undermine the morale of the participants in the uprising.
In recent decades, the construction industry has gained particular importance for the regional economy (15.6% of jobs), in particular, the construction of housing and hotels. Major housing projects are being carried out in Guadalajara. Among the Spanish provinces, Guadalajara came in third in terms of housing costs. Until now, the production of products from the famous Toledo steel, whose history dates back to the Middle Ages, continues. Toledo enterprises produce knives and other cutting tool. The manufacture of daggers and knives is also among the traditional industries of Albacete. In 2007, the Eurocopter assembly plant was put into operation here. The enterprises of the region produce ceramic products, glass, leather products, clothing, footwear, food, tobacco products. The José Cabrera nuclear power plant, which began operation in 1964, was decommissioned in 2006.
The University of Castile-La Mancha was founded in 1982. It currently has about 30,000 students. University campuses are located in the cities of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Toledo; branches operate in Almadena, Talavera de la Reina and Puertoyano. The province of Guadalajara lies outside the scope of the regional university, this area belongs to the University of Alcala. Each province of Castile-La Mancha has a branch State University distance learning.
Transport
The total length of motorways running through the territory of Castile-La Mancha is 2,790 kilometers. Among the busiest are the routes leading from Madrid to various regions of the country. In addition, the region's land is crossed by several international highways. Highways A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, R-2, R-4, A-30, A-31, A-35, AP-36, A pass through the territory of Castile-La Mancha -41, AP-41, A-42, CM-42. A-2 leads from Madrid to Barcelona; A-3 - from Madrid to Valencia; The A-4 connects the Spanish capital with Cadiz; A-5 - with Badajoz; R-2 - with Guadalajara; R-4 - with Okanya; A-30 leads from Albacete to Cartagena; A-31 - from Atalaya del Cañavate to Alicante; A-35 - from Almansa to Xativa, AR-36 from Ocaña - to La Roda; A-41 - from Ciudad Real to Puertoyano; AP-41 and AP-42 connect Madrid and Toledo; SM-42 - Toledo and Tomelloso.
The regional government is implementing a road construction program that provides for the creation of a system of highways linking all settlements with more than 10,000 inhabitants. After the completion of the program, 96% of the region's population will live no more than 15 minutes from high-capacity highways.
Railway communication connects Castile-La Mancha with the Spanish capital and neighboring regions, connects large settlements of the region, including Albacete, Alcazar de San Juan, Ciudad Real, Toledo
The sights also include the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, the monastery of St. John, the El Greco Museum, the Galiana Palace, the "sun gate" Puerta del Sol in Toledo; Cathedral, St. Peter's Church, St. Michael's Church, Christ the Savior Church, St. Paul's Bridge, Seminary Building, St. Paul's Monastery, Bishop's Residence, Magnana Watchtower, Hanging Houses (casas colgadas), Town Hall Building, Archaeological Museum, Museum of the Diocese, Museum of Abstract Art and Museum of Science in Cuenca; Cathedral of John the Baptist in Albacete; the Palace of the Duke of Infantado, the Church of the Virgin Mary and the Church of the Assumption in Guadalajara; Church of St. James, Church of St. Peter in Ciudad Real; mills of Consuerge; Assumption Church in Elina; the church of the Augustinian monastery, the monastery of the Franciscan order, the town hall and the clock tower in Almansa; the monastery of the Trinitarians in Valdepeñas; City Hall in Villarrobledo. Several tourist routes follow the path taken by the famous character of Cervantes. The Don Quixote Museum is located in Ciudad Real.
Holidays and events
In addition to many attractions, Castile-La Mancha attracts visitors with an extensive program of public events, which embodies the ethno-cultural specificity of the traditions of this region. The history of some holidays and festivals dates back to pagan times, others appeared during the time of Christianity, and are most directly related to Christian rites. There is hardly a town or village here whose inhabitants do not arrange mass celebrations. In a number of settlements, festivals and holidays almost continuously replace each other. Between December 25 and 28, the city of Alcazar de San Juan hosts a carnival known as the Carnavalcazar. Costumed processions are held on city streets. On December 28, a traditional ceremony called "burial of the sardine" takes place.
Carnival in the city of Herencia (Ciudad Real), Carnival in Miguelturre (Ciudad Real), La Caballada in Atienza (Guadalajara), Medieval Theater Festival in Ita (Guadalajara), Church Music Festival in Cuenca, La Endiablada in the city of Almonacid del Marquesado. La Endiablada runs from February 1st to 3rd. At this time, colorful processions appear on the streets, which consist of citizens dressed in costumes of evil spirits.
And further...
The cuisine of Castile-La Mancha is characterized by great diversity. Visitors are offered dishes of meat delicacies, trout and crayfish. Popular dishes include migas (bread crumbs and garlic in olive oil), pate morteruelo (morteruelo), pistos asadillo (pistos asadillo) - a dish of peppers fried with tomatoes and garlic, meat stew gazpacho manchego (gazpacho manchego). ), roast lamb cuchifrito, duelos and quebrantos (Duelos y quebrantos) - omelette with lamb brains and ham, egg yolk turrone with almonds, Toledo marzipan. The symbols of gastronomy and winemaking in Castile-La Mancha are Manchego cheese and Valdepeñas wine.
Toledo Football Club was founded in 1928. In the 2009/2010 season, the club returned to the second division of the Spanish Football League after spending five seasons in the third division. The Albacete Football Club, founded in 1940, and the Guadalajara Football Club, founded in 1947, currently also play in the second division. In addition to football, popular sports include handball, basketball, volleyball and cycling.
Toledo is the headquarters of the regional public broadcaster Castilla-La Mancha TV. Localia, Diocesan Channel TV-Popular, Teletoledo, Regional Channel News and Tribune Television, Radio Toledo, COPE, Cadena SER, RNE, RCM radio stations broadcast from here.
Castile - La Mancha - Spanish autonomous community, located in the very center of the country and even in shape this area resembles a graphic symbol of the heart.
This is the third largest region of Spain, occupying about 16% of its territory. This part of the Iberian Peninsula is called the Southern Submeseta (plateau) and is the south of the Central Meseta. The territory of Castile - La Mancha does not differ in large elevation differences, but in the northeast and south the relief in many cases becomes higher and in some places turns into a mountain, as, for example, in the southwest, where the Sierra Morena mountain range separates Castile - La Mancha from, or in the southeast of the region, where the Sierra de Alcaras and Sierra de la Segura are located near the border with Murcia. Cuenca's own noticeable mountains (Iberian system), located in the northeast, are of a limestone nature.
The middle position deprived the region of access to the sea. It is surrounded by seven Spanish lands.
Story
Castile and La Mancha are vast historical regions of Spain. At the same time, Castile was once an independent feudal state. The so-called Old Castile was located in the northwestern part of present-day Spain, and New Castile was located in the center. Its territories, with the exception of the seceding Madrid, basically became part of the autonomous community of Castile - La Mancha.
The lands of this region have been inhabited for a long time. Many sites of primitive man were discovered in the upper reaches of the Guadiana River, and in the province of Albacete there are dozens of caves with ancient rock paintings. In most of the territory of La Mancha, traces of the so-called Da las Motillas culture can be found: until the Bronze Age (approximately the end of the 4th - the beginning of the 1st millennium BC), ancient builders used original model settlements, building houses in several tiers around concentric walls in such a way that, as a result, the structure resembled a hill topped with a watchtower.
By the 1st millennium BC e. several groups of peoples lived here, among which the Celts (Carpetans and Vetons) predominated. In their free time from internecine battles, most of the population was engaged in cattle breeding. The most famous city that Spain inherited from the Carpetans was Toletum (later Toledo), dedicated to the god of water, which has always played an important role in the history of the region, and at present is the capital of the province of Toledo and the entire modern region of Castile - La Mancha.
Another people who found themselves at the very center of local political events were the Oretans living in the south of the province of Ciudad Real. On their territory was the Sisapo mine - the richest Mediterranean deposit of mercury. Both the Carthaginians and the Romans paid attention to the valuable metals of these places. In an attempt to subdue the Ortans, the Carthaginian commander Hamilcar Barca (c. 270-228 BC) died. During II Punic War(218-201 BC) Castile - La Mancha was captured by the Romans. Toledo became the center of their province until the invasion of the Visigoths, who by the 5th century. conquered the entire region.
For centuries, a vibrant history has been created here, as well as masterpieces of art and winemaking.
During the reign of Muslims in Spain (VII-XV centuries), Toledo, together with the vast adjacent territories, covering most of the current Castile - La Mancha, was part of the Cordoba Caliphate. The city became a scientific center. In it, under the leadership of Archbishop Raymond (1126-1151), a famous school of translators was created, through the efforts of which many works on philosophy, medicine, mathematics and other sciences were translated from Arabic. In 1085, Toledo was occupied by the troops of the King of Castile and Leon Alphonse VI (1038/40-1109), and the area conquered from the Moors in subsequent centuries was called New Castile. And although in the XVI century. the capital was moved to, this century was the heyday for Toledo and other ancient city area - Cuenca: manufactories flourished and active trade was conducted with a new part of the world - America. However, famine, droughts and epidemics of the late 16th and 17th centuries. led to the decline of the region, which is described in all colors in the immortal novel by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616) The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha.
18th century began with the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), and ended with the division of the territory of New Castile: the province of La Mancha was separated from its composition as early as 1691, and the provinces of Cuenca, Guadalajara, Madrid and Toledo were formed in 1785.
During the Napoleonic Wars, the inhabitants of New Castile waged a fierce struggle against the French invaders. On this territory in 1809, among others, two major historical battles took place: near the city of Ucles (province of Cuenca) and near the village of Okane (province of Toledo). They ended with the defeat of the Spaniards, and from 1810 to 1813. all the cities of the region were occupied by Napoleonic troops. 20th century brought revolts and heavy battles between opponents and supporters of General Francisco Franco (1892-1975) to the region. As a result, his victory caused a wave of migration: in the period from 1950 to 1960s. more than half a million people in the region have emigrated, mostly to the United States and Latin America. In its current form, the autonomous region of Castile - La Mancha appeared on the map of Spain in 1982.
This vast region has the lowest population density in Spain, with one of the highest life expectancies (82.7 years on average) and a higher birth rate than the death rate. It has its own parliament (Cortes), which elects a president every four years, who is then approved by the Spanish king. The service sector plays a huge role in the economy, providing the region with more than 55.5% of jobs. The biggest bet is made on tourism - the hotel stock alone is growing rapidly every year. Government programs are supporting the construction of roads that allow access to the most secluded corners of this sparsely populated region.
Modern Castile - La Mancha is recognized as one of the world's largest wine regions. Wines "Valdepeñas" have become a symbol of local winemaking. Wine in Valdepeñas (province of Ciudad Real) was produced under the Romans in the traditional huge (up to 15,000 liters) Tinajas amphorae. It is this inexpensive, but excellent-tasting red wine that is drunk by both the rich and the poor - real people and Spanish literary characters. 29,000 hectares of Valdepeñas vineyards provide wine lovers with up to 600,000 hectoliters of wine annually. And art lovers will not miss such masterpieces as the royal residence "Alcazar" in Toledo, the Don Quixote Museum in Ciudad Real or the well-preserved medieval city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cuenca.
general information
Location: Iberian Peninsula, central part of Spain.
Border regions: Andalusia, Murcia, Valencia, Aragon, Madrid, Extremadura.
Administrative-territorial division: 5 provinces (Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Toledo). 919 municipalities.
Date of formation: XI-XIII centuries - New Castile, 1982 - the name and territory in its modern form.
Capital: Toledo, 83,108 people (2011).
Language: Spanish.
Ethnic composition: 87.8% - Spaniards, 12.2% - Romanians, Moroccans, Ecuadorians, Colombians, etc. (2011).
Religion: Catholicism prevails.
Currency unit: Euro.
Largest cities: Albacete (172,472 people), Guadalajara (84,453 people), Toledo, Ciudad Real (74,014 people), Cuenca (56,189 people).
Major rivers: Guadiana, Tajo, Jucar, Segura.
Major airport: Ciudad Real International Airport; Albacete Airport - Los Llanos.
Numbers
Area: 79,463 km2.Population: 2,121,888
Population density: 26.7 people / km 2.
highest point: Las Viluercas (1601 m).
52% of the region's soils are considered dry.
Climate and weather
Continental Mediterranean climate.January average temperature: 0°C.
July average temperature:+30°С.
Average annual rainfall: 600 mm (from 400 in the center to 1000 in the mountains) per year.
Between summer and winter temperatures there are very large differences.
Economy
GRP per capita: 6 17 339 (2000).
■ natural parks : Tablas de Daimiel and Cabaneros in the Toledo Mountains, upper Tagus River, Barranco del Rio Dulce, Lagunas de Rudeira, Calares del Rio Mundo I de la Sima, Ayedo beech forest de Tejera Negra, Serrania de Cuenca karst formations.■ city of toledo: Roman ruins, Cathedral of the Virgin Mary (1227-1493), Alcazar Castle (1486-1570), El Greco Museum.
■ city of Guadalajara: Puente Arabe bridge (built by the Romans in the 1st century, rebuilt by the Arabs in the 8th-10th centuries), Palacio del Infantado (1483), Convento de la Piedad monastery (XVI century), Church of San Francisco (XVI-XVII centuries).
■ city of Albacete: Abelardo Sanchez Park (1910).
■ City of Ciudad Real: New Calatrava Castle (1216; in the province), Medrano Palace, Cathedral (XVI century), Don Quixote Museum.
■ Cuenca city: Church of San Miguel (XIII century), Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Julian (XII-XV centuries), Mangana watchtower (the only site of the Arab fort of Cuenca).
■ Other: vineyards, windmills.
Curious facts
■ Original local craft - making marzipan figurines. Annually in the province their output can reach five million items.■ Windmills that Don Quixote could fight are located near the city of Ciudad Real. Today, some of them operate as museums.
■ The famous local cheese "Manchego" is made only from the milk of Manchego sheep. Its name literally means "La Manche" and is a protected brand of the territory.
■ The novel The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha mentions more than 150 folk cuisine recipes.
■ What is known in the world as Spanish, in Spain itself is called only Castilian - "Castellano". But in Spain, in addition to Castilian, there are other official (local) languages: Galician, Aran (a variant of Occitan), Catalan and Basque.
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